Next iPad Mini to Sport ‘Retina’ Display

Aug 1, 2013 3:05 am ET

By Juro Osawa and Lorraine Luk

The iPad mini wasn’t short of fans when it was released in November last year. But as more brands vie for a slice of the global tablet market, Apple Inc.’s shift to a “retina display” for its small tablet could help keep consumers interested.

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Since the iPad sparked a boom in the tablet market a few years ago, tablet makers have been hard-pressed to woo an increasingly discerning crowd. Consumers have come to expect sharper screens and faster processors at low prices for both smartphones and tablets. Last week, Google Inc. released its latest Nexus 7 tablet with a high-resolution screen.

Apple’s Asian suppliers are preparing for mass production of the next version of the iPad mini in the fourth quarter, according to people familiar with the matter. The size of the next iPad mini, the people said, will likely be the same as the current 7.9-inch model.

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